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Jac awoke naturally at her usual time the morning after her wedding. She glanced across the pillows at the peaceful face of Jonny, still sleeping the events of yesterday away. She smiled to herself as she thought 'my husband'. She carefully slipped out of the bed and made her way over the bathroom, pausing to pull on Jonny's t-shirt, hastily discarded on the floor during last nights passion.

Jonny woke at the sound of the toilet flush coming from on the on suite bathroom. For a moment he was confused as to where he was but as his mind become fully conscious he smiled as remembered the day before. He rolled onto his side as Jac opened the bathroom door and winced slightly as he was also reminded of his painful injuries sustained being a hero.

'Merry Christmas eve Mrs Naylor-Maconie' he smiled as Jac scrambled back into bed.

'Sorry, did I wake you?' She asked as she moved closer to him

'Don't you dare put your cold feet on me!' Jonny warned her quickly.

'Surely as my husband it is now your duty to allow me to warm my feet on your body?' she smirked as she snuggled up close to him. She heard Jonny wince as he put his arm around her. 'Is your arm still painful?' she asked him with concern in her voice.

'No, it's just the bruising on my ribs' Jonny unsuccessfully tried to reassure her. She wiggled away from him and snapped on the bedside lamp.

'Urgh! What are you doing?' Jonny wined as he scrunched up his eyes from the unwelcome light.

'Checking your bruises' Jac informed him as he felt the warm duvet being lifted off him.

'Jac, its freezing cold!' he complained opening his eyes 'just lay back down will you?' he winced as he felt Jacs fingers gently press against his ribs.

'You were lucky you didn't break any' she muttered as she satisfied herself they were just bruised. 'Bloody Hell! Have you seen the size of the bruise on your thigh?!' she exclaimed next.

'The frozen ground was pretty rock-hard to land on you know' Jonny started laughing 'now have you finished admiring my naked body or would you like me to do some poses for you?'

'Ha ha' Jac spoke dryly as she laid herself back down next to her husband and covered them both over with the duvet 'you won't be quite so ungrateful when I have to help you redress the wound on your arm later I'm sure' she kissed his lips gently.

'I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing you perform a nursey duty' Jonny laughed as Jac tucked her head under his chin choosing to ignore his comment. Jonny wrapped his arm around her skinny frame pulling her body closer to his.

'It feels really strange waking up and not having Ava suddenly making demands of me' she mused closing her eyes again. 'I know it's only been one night but I really miss her'.

'I guess we really are parents now huh?' Jonny kissed the top of Jac's head.

'I hope Jasmine is alright, she looked really drawn and pale when we left' Jac spoke sleepily.

'She's got Mo fussing over her and Ava. I'm sure everything's fine'

'Granddad looked happy yesterday didn't he?' Jac was sounding increasingly sleepy.

'Of course he was happy, it was a happy day' Jonny looked down at Jac's face to see she was drifting off back to sleep. 'I can't believe we're on honeymoon and all you want to do is sleep' he muttered jokingly.

'Don't pretend you're not as exhausted as I am' Jac mumbled.

'Go back to sleep' Jonny kissed her head again. 'We've got another busy day ahead of us when we get home.'

The Naylor-Maconie's arrived home just after lunch to be greeted by an excitable Ava and a slightly anxious Mo. As soon as Jac saw Mo's face her suspicions about Jasmine were confirmed.

'Jasmine has been readmitted hasn't she?' she asked Mo as she set Ava down on her feet having just hugged the little girl in greeting.

Mo nodded her head 'I wanted to call you but Granddad George and Jasmine were insistent I shouldn't and then Sacha and Michael insisted I took Ava home, and I didn't want to create fuss in case we upset Ava' Mo babbled in explanation as Jac took out her phone and started dialling Michael Spence's number.

'Mo, you did the right thing' Jonny reassured his friend 'you took care of Ava for us'

'Spence, you'd better start telling me truth' Jonny heard Jac saying into her phone as he went with Ava to see the 'get well' picture's she'd been drawing for her mother '…how bad?...ok we'll be in right away…don't you dare tell me what to do!' Jac's eyes flashed with annoyance as she talked to her friend on the phone 'she's my sister…she's just been diagnosed with pneumonia but her main concern is whether or not she'll get to watch Ava in the nativity?' Jac sounded exasperated '…tell her of course Ava will still be taking part in the nativity, honestly the things this family worries about in times of crisis! Tell her to text me a list of things she wants and I'll bring them in for her…yeah ok…Michael? Thanks for taking such good care of her.' Jac hung up the phone before Michael could make any smart remarks about her thanking him.

'How is she?' Mo asked anxiously.

'Considering her main concern is Ava's nativity play I'd say she's doing ok' Jac rolled her eyes. 'I don't think they are going to let us bring her home for Christmas though' Jac sounded disappointed.

'Hey, we can still celebrate at the hospital' Mo rubbed Jac's arm reassuringly 'it doesn't matter where you are so long as you're with the right people'.

'Thanks for keeping Ava so calm and happy through all this' Jac smiled at the woman she considered a good friend gratefully.

'Ah well she was so tired out from being a flower girl yesterday she slept like a baby and then woke up this morning full of the Joys of Christmas so it was easy' Mo shrugged.

'Oh dear she's got her cross grumpy face on' Jasmine sighed as she spotted her sister entering the ward from the windows of the side room. 'Granddad go and tell her I don't want to see her unless she promises not to say 'I told you so' and be cross.'

'Righto' Granddad George laughed as he got his feet 'I'll remind her of the spirit of Christmas while I'm at it shall I?' he left the side room with a naughty twinkle in his eye Ric recognised as having been clearly inherited by Jac.

'You realise Jac's more worried than cross?' Ric Griffin spoke as he sat down in chair George had vacated next to Jasmines bed.

'I don't want her worry' Jasmine sighed 'I want her to be happy because she's just got married and its Christmas.'

'She loves you very much' Ric crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair 'therefore it is now her duty to worry. It doesn't mean she can't be happy at same time though.'

'Mr Griffin will you be honest with me? Am I in here until the end now?'

'Let's just wait and see' he smiled comfortingly 'obviously you know yourself you're very weak but lets just try the antibiotics and see.' He patted Jasmines hand as he stood up to leave 'you will tell Jac you signed the DNR today won't you?'

'Yes but not now. It can wait until after Christmas' Jasmine closed her eyes.

'Ok. Fair enough' she heard Ric say as he let the room.

'Well hello sleepy head' Jac smiled at her sister as she finally opened her eyes.

'Hi' Jasmine smiled back. 'Where's Ava?'

'At nativity rehearsals with Mo, Jonny and Granddad. Evidently she could go without any of them' Jac rolled her eyes.

'I so better be getting to watch this nativity play' Jasmine sighed.

'Are you planning a great escape again?' Jac asked with mock innocence.

'No' Jasmine giggled 'but I want to see my little girl playing an angel even if she can't always be angelic in real life.'

'You do realise she's still disappointed she wasn't allowed to be one of the sheep?' Jac smiled remembering the sulk Ava had had when she returned home from nursery with a halo rather than the desired woolly fleece. Apparently smiling sweetly in the background wasn't as good as being able to say 'bahhh' whilst sitting next to the manger.

'I'm still blaming you and your tomboy influences for that' Jasmine teased 'a few months ago flitting about in a white smock and halo would have been the height of bliss for Ava'

'You can't mould a child' Jac grinned as she shrugged 'you get what you're given I'm afraid. Although I'm still working on ending that attachment she has to anything pink.'

'Ha, good luck with that one' Jasmine laughed sending herself into a coughing fit.

'Here' Jac handed her a cup of water and rubbed her back keeping her eye on the monitors.

'Thanks' Jasmine wheezed as she gained control over the coughing. Jac returned to her seat once she saw Jasmine stats had returned to normal.

'When did you sign the DNR?' Jac asked suddenly.

'How'd find out?' Jasmine gave Jac a confused look.

'I might have had a quick peek at your file' Jac looked guilty.

'See that is precisely why Mr Spence takes the file with him' to Jac's relief Jasmine didn't look cross 'we need to get Mr Griffin better trained.'

'Were you going to tell me?'

'Yes.' Jasmine nodded 'I was going to wait until after Christmas though'

'It's a big decision.'

'I know. I've discussed it with the doctors and Granddad and some counsellor type person. Do you disapprove?'

Jac shook her head 'No. At this stage I concur'.

'You know your methodical bedside manner is hardly comforting but it's strangely reassuring' Jasmine giggled again.

'Careful, don't set yourself of coughing again' Jac warned her but she couldn't hide her grin.

'Right Miss Burrows' Serena Campbell entered the room 'seeing as the nativity is taking place in the hospital chapel and is likely to be attended by many medical personnel, we have decided if you still wish to do so you can attend.'

Much to Ava's delight her Mummy, Granddad, Auntie Jac and Uncle Jonny were joined by Professor Hope, Mo, Sacha, Michael, Chantelle, Mr Malick and his son Jake to watch her performance in the holby city nursery nativity play. When she waved to them they had all waved back including Mr Malick, although he later denied it. Jac's heart swelled with pride as she watched the little girl prettily playing an angelic angel, honoured Ava belonged to her.

'Ava, my little star' her mummy had said to her as she pulled her up onto her lap after the show had ended 'did you enjoy being an angel in the end?'

'It was ok' Ava shrugged her shoulders causing the adults to laugh.

'I ended up playing a shepherd for three years running' Jake spoke sympathetically to the little girl he had gotten to know well on his frequent trips to keller ward to annoy his father 'I always wanted to be the inn keeper.'

'I wanted to be a sheep' Ava said shrugging her shoulders again 'they got say 'bahhh'.

'Maybe next year Ava' Professor Hope spoke kindly to the little girl before making his goodbyes to return to the ward.

'Right so change of plan for Christmas day' Sacha spoke joyfully although Jac knew he was secretly dreading spending the day away from Daniel currently living in Australia with Chrissie and his girls who had been taken away on a surprise trip Sacha had agreed to not wanting to spoil his first ex-wife's fun. 'Granddad George and I will meet Jac, Jonny and Ava here so we can visit you, Jasmine' Sacha was careful to make sure Jasmine knew she would be seeing all her family despite being forced to stay in hospital. 'Then when Mo has finished the early shift she and I will head over to Jonny and Jac's to start preparations for Christmas dinner, which will then be ready when Granddad George, Jonny, Jac and Ava return in the evening.'

'Sounds like a plan' Jasmine smiled 'Although can you do me favour and bring me in some of Mo's homemade mince pies so I'm not missing out on the best bit?'

'Whatever you want you shall have' Mo lent over the back of Jasmines wheelchair and gave the young woman a hug. 'I just love Christmas.'

A middle aged red haired woman stood watching in the cold hospital car park as her father embraced a red haired woman she would have recognised anywhere. She watched as her father got into a car with a doctor she vaguely remembered from her stay the last time she was here. The fiery haired woman, a man she didn't recognise and a small red haired child waved the occupants of the car off.

'Right then Pumpkin, how about we head home and start getting ready for Santa Clause?' she heard the red haired woman say to the little girl as she carried her arms towards a parked car.

A lump formed in the woman's throat as she heard her daughter used the nickname 'Pumpkin' for her granddaughter. She watched as the happy little family unit got into their car and drove away.

'Hello Paula' she heard an American accent say behind her.